Congratulations to Brad Marston, who was recently selected as a Simons Foundation Pivot Fellowship Mentor! Marston will mentor University of Georgia (UGA) professor of physics Alan T. Dorsey, a theoretical physicist who will transition to geophysical fluid dynamics and climate modeling.

Launched in 2022, the Pivot Fellowship is open to faculty in the natural sciences, mathematics, engineering, data science, and computer science at academic institutions or equivalent positions elsewhere. The fellowships provide salary support as well as research, travel and professional development funding. Mentors also receive a $50,000 research fund to support training the fellow in their lab. At the end of the fellowship year, fellows will be invited to apply for a 3-year research award in the new field for up to $1.5 million over the three-year period.

According to UGA, Dorsey will leverage his expertise in condensed matter physics to explore recently discovered topological features in equatorial planetary waves and to expand this work to include the effects of nonlinearities and stratification on wave propagation. "The Simons Fellowship opportunity was exactly what I needed to reboot my research after eleven years as dean," Dorsey said. He plans to embed this work in a study of an atmospheric phenomenon called the quasi-biennial oscillation: periodic reversal of zonal east-to-west winds that encircle the planet and act from six to 50 kilometers above Earth’s surface 

“Alan is a distinguished theoretical physicist, and I’m honored to work with him on his project, which will span the fields of condensed matter physics and geophysical fluid dynamics,” Marston said. “By using the mathematics and physics of topology, we expect to contribute to a better understanding of the fluid Earth climate system.”